RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 The manufacture and assessment of tissue microarrays: suggestions and criteria for analysis, with breast cancer as an example
JF Journal of Clinical Pathology
JO J Clin Pathol
FD BMJ Publishing Group Ltd and Association of Clinical Pathologists
SP 169
OP 177
DO 10.1136/jclinpath-2012-201091
VO 66
IS 3
A1 Sarah E Pinder
A1 John P Brown
A1 Cheryl Gillett
A1 Colin A Purdie
A1 Valerie Speirs
A1 Alastair M Thompson
A1 Abeer M Shaaban
YR 2013
UL http://jcp.bmj.com/content/66/3/169.abstract
AB Tissue microarray (TMA) is an established and valuable tool, particularly in translational research and clinical trials, allowing resource-efficient use, and high-throughput profiling, of large numbers of tumours. Despite this, there is little evidence, or guidance, on the optimum manufacture, use and assessment of TMAs. Here we review some of the literature, using breast cancer as an example, to highlight good practice and pitfalls in the design and manufacture of TMAs. Issues, such as the size, number, spacing and layout of cores, as well as the assessment and reporting of studies using TMAs are addressed. We make some suggestions regarding these challenges, and propose a checklist of features that should be considered in order to stimulate debate and improve the quality of data produced by TMA analysis.